The Sincere Veneer: What drives the development industry off the rails and how to get it back on track - Softcover

Ferster PhD, Geoffrey

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1494758792 ISBN 13: 9781494758790

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2013

Synopsis

In The Sincere Veneer, Geoffrey Ferster seeks to explain why the vast resources that have been devoted to developmental issues in recent decades have borne so little fruit. Acknowledging the complexity of the issue, Ferster has nevertheless come to the conclusion that industry experts are far more adept at delivering exceptional rewards to themselves than to those in need. Armed with the best of intentions (sometimes) and generous donations from taxpayers, foundations, and NGOs, a growing cadre of experts has, in the course of time, brought into being that self-perpetuating behemoth we call the Development Industry. But all is not lost, in Ferster’s view. The talent and resources are in place: what’s needed to get the “industry” back on track is a reorganization of the intellectual infrastructure that guides the system. In the pages of this timely book Ferster gives us a refresher course in the history of the industry, describes how it works now, and offers a clear and compelling blueprint for change.

About this title

About the Author

Geoffrey Ferster studied at the University of Minnesota, the London School of Economics and Political Science, and Cornell University, where he earned his Ph.D. in agricultural and managerial economics, with a focus on land and regional economic development. He later received appointments at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, University of Exeter, UK (applied health economics in the National Health Service), and with WHO in Indonesia’s Ministry of Health, which enabled him to work with a wide variety of professionals, bureaucrats and villagers. As an independent consultant to the World Bank, The Netherlands Development Co-operation , USAID, AusAID, the Harvard Institute of International Development, and UNOPS, Ferster served in Ghana, Indonesia, Jordan, Malawi, Nepal, Palestinian Authority, Sierra Leone and Turkey.

About this edition

• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1494758792
• ISBN 13: 9781494758790
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 268